Texas

A couple of weeks ago I flew out to Texas to spend a week with a friend who moved out there. It was my first alone trip and the longest I've ever been away from the kids. I may have cried a little leaving. It also was my first time driving in Utah, booking my own flight and doing all the flight things alone. Thankfully I stayed with Margaret and she took me to the airport, so I didn't have to deal with parking there. 

The kids had fun while i was gone, but we did miss each other. Emery and Jacks took over our room, which they loved 

Jackson got a mask for his Halloween costume and wore it around all day. They're playing a game with him as Jason. 

We did a lot in Texas. Ate a lot of good places, did a lot of shopping, went on some hikes and then were just lazy. We loaded up on snacks and watched scary shows. 

I bought joggers and showed her and she ended up having the same ones.  

The first hike we went on was very humid. I do not do well with humidity. It was really pretty but also a little creepy. 

In the top of trees you'll see a big web across the path and then see a decently big black spot. These spiders are in the trees just above the paths. It's pretty creepy to walk under. 

We went to the Texas State Fair. It was huge and packed. 

This was in the middle of it all. There is so much Texas pride everywhere, it's actually pretty fun to see. 

There were huge butter sculptures. I want to know what they do with all of the butter afterwards. This building was the best because it actually had AC. I went for 70's in Twin to 80-90's in Texas. 

We walked out of this huge feeding zoo and walking into the parade. I'm not sure if this is nightly or we were just lucky. Again, so much Texas pride. 

Closer to the entrance there were performers dancing. Some of the songs had fireworks and others had holograms on the water. It was fun to watch. 

This is lame, I know, but there were acorns all over. I've never noticed them in Idaho, although I guess we have them. 

We went to a Christmas store. It was a huge place full of Christmas decor. It was good I had to fly home, otherwise you could spend hours and lots in the store getting ready for Christmas. 

We did a hike at a place called Cedar Ridge. It was my favorite one. There are so many paths you can take. Some are harder than others. One path we took had a lot of incline. It was tough but fun. We climbed an outlook. I don't like heights, so watching my get up the stairs was pretty funny, but the view was worth it. 

There was a spot that was filled with plants that attract butterflies. It is more the end of the season for them, but we did see a few. 

We went to Six Flags Frighfest one night, just the adults. We did all of the haunted houses. They were a lot of fun and I have yelled a few times. One of them a guy followed me for a while, which was scary enough. 

Due to all of the rain they can get they have to have big drains. I sent them to Jacks to show him because they look like IT is living in there. Jacks did ask if Derry was in Texas.

We took a hike with the kids one day. They love running ahead and going for walks. 

Emma has a fake phone and pretends to text me on it all of the time. She was taking a picture of Preston to send to me. 

While I had a lot of fun and the week went by really fast, I missed my family a lot. For someone who is a homebody, a week is a long time. While I was gone Brad sent flowers to Texas for me. I was sad I couldn't bring them all home, but brought a few to dry. 

In the airport in Dallas, my bag was 7 lbs over the limit. I had to buy a bag for $25 (or keep my bag at its weight and pay $75). I felt lame having such a big bag, but I got a lot of things while I was there, so it was needed. When I got home, everyone was up waiting for me. It was so nice to give everyone a hug and see them again. Emery said next time I go, I have to take her.

Kids

Emery left Brad and I a little note the other day on our mirror. We'll write on mirrors with dry erase markers sometimes. She wrote, I love you mom and dad. You're the best. Love Emersyn. Then she put PS this is an expo marker. 

The other day it was windy and some how, still not sure how, Jackson got his finger smashed in the car door. The doors were locked so it took just a second longer to get it out. He doesn't cry often but it was a very painful spot. Thankfully it wasn't broken. 

Day 2 much better.

Just because I never show the dogs. They are hating this colder weather. 

We moved the front room around and we were able to get Brad's chair back. They really missed having the chair to lay on. They have pretty much just slept on it every chance they get since we brought it back. 

This is just to show that Jackson can't take a normal picture when you say smile. 

Dystopia!

The boys had a class play. They are in the drama class and they put on a play at the end of the semester. This one was a mix of a bunch of books. It was pretty funny and the boys did a good job, but it was a little weird. Only thing is it was hard to hear. Camden spoke to quiet. 

Fun fact, Beckham needed jeans for his costume and he doesn't have any. He only wears basketball shorts or sweats, so he borrowed a pair of mine. They were too big for him, but worked for what he needed. 

 They had to cuddle, or spoon. If they didn't then they would die. They were supposed to be awkward in the play, but also were awkward because they are teen boys hugging in front of parents and friends. It was a funny scene. 

 And for some reason Beck's weapon at the end was a huge bear. Like I said, funny but weird. 

Random Things

It is the best time of year again, Halloween Wars is back on tv. Just the first week in and the kids have their teams picked. 

 Brad takes the position of his TP very seriously. I get the difference, just don't pay enough attention to it. Apparently he wants me to figure it out finally. 

 Luna is such a lazy dog. Brad got off the couch and she landed like this and just stayed. 

 Then to keep her warm, Brad put on a blanket. She stayed this way for a good 20 minutes. 

 It's conference time again. Grandma just had surgery, so we just did BINGO downstairs. They didn't get any prizes, other than M&Ms. 

Jackson and the Flies

The best part of this weekend was watching Jackson try and kill flies. It's the wonderful time of year where there are a ton of really slow flies everywhere.  Jacks has watched Brad and I kill them, so tonight he took it on himself to get as many as he could. He did a good job, the only thing is he is a little too short so he had to jump for the ones on the top. He actually did a good job and got a lot of them and had a blast while doing so. 

Emery is 11!

Yesterday Emersyn turned 11. She has been looking forward to her birthday since May. Having all of the kids birthday's in May makes her a little excited for her's to come. She wanted a party again this year. She invited 2 friends over. We went golfing at Lazer Mania and played a few games afterward. 

After golf they made slime of course. 

For some reason she wanted me to make her cake. It was pink unicorn with blue frosting and sprinkles with strawberries. 

We played the saran wrap ball game and opened presents. 

One thing Emery loves more than anything is to shop. She is 100% girl in that fact. We decided to give her a bunch of balloons with money in them. I'm not sure she really got it at first. 

Then Monday, on her actual birthday, her and I went to Jimmy Johns and on a shopping spree. We has a lot of fun. She shopped until she dropped, or until she spent all of her money. She got clothes, slime, scrunchies, backpack charms, things for her doll and stuff animal. 

Our friends from Texas sent her a birthday package too. she opened that Thursday, birthday Friday and presents from her brothers on Monday. 

Emery is the perfect single daughter. She is VERY girly (which I don't always get), but she also loves to play with her brothers, and most importantly, hang out with her mom. I love our girl nights together. Painting nails and face masks. Shopping and eating out, it's all a lot of fun. Emery loves to play with Jackson, and when we move, I think she'll have a harder time then she realizes moving into her own room. She loved babies, both real and fake. She'll carry her dolls around and then love to hold her baby cousins. She is going to be a great mom one day. Emery loves to cook with her dad mostly. They make pudding pie and muffins a lot. Since Uncle Bryan and his family has moved back to Twin, she and Adarah have been the best of friends. I love seeing them together. They can play for hours on end and not get tired. She girly but also doesn't care about her hair. She could go days without brushing it if I let her. Although this year for picture day she took it very seriously and picked the outfit the night before and had me braid her hair so it was curly in the morning. She could live in the water and at the pool. She loved having the pool pass the most. Too bad she was just too young to go alone or she would have gone more. Both Jacks and Emery love to color picture and then keep every single paper they touch. We cleaned their rooms this weekend, which they were not happy about, and we had to get them draws just to keep loose papers. None of my kids have the compulsive need to clean like I do. Emery does really well in school and loves it for the most part. She really loved the teacher she had last year, and she tells me almost daily how she tired to sneak into his line after recess or back into 4th grade so she can have him again. She is tiny, so she can almost get away with it. Emery likes being short, but also wants to get tall. She doesn't get how I was 5 ft 5 inch in 5th grade and she is just over 4. I tell her she can blame her dad's genes I guess. Emery is super sweet and nice but when she gets an attitude... lets just say teen Emery will be 'fun'. Thankfully she isn't verbally loud when mad; if she is really mad, she won't talk to you for hours. She can hold a grudge like no one i know. But once she is okay she always comes and give me a hug. We have a great relationship, but butt heads the most also. Again, teen Emery will be fun. Emery's favorite subject is writing, her favorite game or toy is Roblox and her favorite food is fried chicken. 

Fun Times

Brad keeps telling me it has been a while since I put anything up. With school starting, not a whole lot has happened. 

Emery and I like to paint nails together. The other day Jackson decided to join in the fun and let Emery paint his nails. He has yet to wear flip flops since getting that done though. 

We have had a big problem with the dogs running off. Brad and I are to the point where we just tell the kids to leave them and if something happens... well they shouldn't have run off. They didn't like that idea too much. We decided to put up a little fence. They can run a little but shouldn't be able to get out. Lack of exercise I think is one of the biggest issues. So far it works great. 

While putting the fence up, Camden decided to see if he could fit in the baby stroller, he did and then I flipped him over. He wasn't impressed because it made it harder for him to get out.